Monday, August 13, 2018

Saturday Lightning Starts Multiple Fires in Glacier

Glacier National Park and interagency firefighters are responding to multiple fire starts following lightning activity the night of August 11. Park officials have expanded the evacuation order to include all businesses and private residences within the Lake McDonald Lodge complex, including the historic Lake McDonald Lodge. Visitors and employees were notified of the need to evacuate at around 9 PM last night. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed from Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass. The Avalanche Creek Campground and residences along North Lake McDonald Road were notified of the need to evacuate at around 8 PM Sunday night.Three known fires have started:

• The Heavens Sake Fire, below Heavens Peak is visible from the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Rappellers are on order to take suppression action on that fire.

• Smoke jumpers have been ordered for a fire near Numa Ridge because there is a suitable location for the jumpers to respond.

• A fire on Howe Ridge burned actively throughout the night. It grew significantly due to windy and very dry fire conditions. Visitors will likely see CL-215s (super scoopers) scooping water out of Lake McDonald to fight that fire. Ground resources are also hiking in. Structure protection resources are on scene.

The following trails have been closed due to fire danger: Numa Lookout Trail, Trout Lake Trails, Howe Ridge and Howe Lake Trails.

No evacuation orders have been issued for residents that live in the park. The park does not have acreage estimates at this time.

The park has established a Fire Information Line with updated recorded information about these fires: 406-888-7077.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com

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